We had the good fortune of connecting with Miguel ‘Chromatic’ Valencia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Miguel ‘Chromatic’, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Taking risks in the stuff I do is what makes my work interesting for many people deeper if not personal in many ways. I always say that I am down to take risks if I believe in it then I will. We live our lives very constructed based on society thinking what we should be or how we need to live but sometimes I think we gotta take risks and really put ourselves at the edge to realize what we can do or better yet could be. “Are you down to cut a couple corners? or are you down to lose everything and start over for what you believe in?.

Those roles have been a pivotal roller coaster for me in many ways in my life from the street to the industry I wanted to quit but I kept going and it paid off I am still building myself to where I want to be I am almost there. Taking risks nothing is guaranteed but if you gotta feel it within and and figure out a way to make it move.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
What sets me a part is I shoot street photography yes there are so many and in San Diego everybody has a camera they take pictures of homeless, concerts, eventful stuff and of course lowrider’s. I shoot gang photography I tell there stories I meet them I am around them frequently. I am proud of representing what I feel is the real San Diego the areas people act like they don’t know walking down Logan with a coffee yet they don’.t understand.

I got to where I am today being published and written about because it was my belief and persistence and becoming better at what Ive done every time I felt it wasn’t enough I went back outside even harder eventually slowly doors would open from specific figures in the street to my recognition in the industry and its still opening slowly it is not an easy topic to promote for curators and galleries, publishers and those are my challenges but its happening.

The lessons I have learned is persistence nothing happens over night and it may take quite some time for your brand to build but over time you will become even better at what you do. I want the world to know that this lifestyle that I photograph its a lot deeper than it seems, its not just to dress up or to glorify for a lowrider show that and these are real people living in a way that we don’t and a side of San Diego kept under the surface.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’ll put it to you like this my people are here however if somebody an editor or whom ever reached out I would take them to some of the best spots within the barrios I would take them to Salud! and ‘Las Cuatro Milpas’ in Logan Heights, we’d have mexican seafood (Mariscos) in OTAY ‘El Cacho’ Ill take them for some good micheladas in National City and to ‘El Primos’ on third avenue, and a couple restaurant’s in Little Italy and meet a couple of my friends for some personal parties.

I think San Diego Downtown is overrated I mean if you just turned 21 or your not from San Diego then its your go to area I guess I do enjoy the dim low lighting and low pro yet vibrant music sets and atmosphere of ‘El Dorado’ down there.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to recognize and shout out the communities of what I refer to as ‘The other side of San Diego’ thee south bay and south east, and north county areas for supporting, collaborating and giving me the permission and advice to best do what I have done and still do.

Thank you to the community and neighborhoods of OTAY, Logan Heights, Shelltown, Sherman, National City, San Ysidro, LOMAS (Golden Hills), North County ‘Posole’, Paradise Hills, Market Street, Lomita Village. Ocean View 59 Brim.

Website: https://theothersideofsandiego.photoshelter.com/index/G0000aNfmNrOMF_g

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chromatic619/?hl=en

Other: https://streetphotographymagazine.com/article/the-other-side-of-san-diego/

Image Credits
Miguel ‘Chromatic’ Valencia for ‘The other side of San Diego’

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSocal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.